EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J – The Giants announced 11 transactions as they began the process of reducing their roster from the 90 players they had in training camp to the regular-season limit of 53.
Wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton, who had performed impressively after joining the team as a rookie free agent, was placed on injured reserve. Ford-Wheaton played only four special teams snaps in the preseason finale against the Jets but tore his ACL and is out for the season. He caught two passes for 24 yards last week in the victory against the Carolina Panthers and was the only wideout who played on multiple special teams.
Five players were waived: wide receiver Collin Johnson, running back James Robinson, defensive tackle Kevin Atkins, nose tackle Donovan Jeter and defensive back Darren Evans.
The Giants also terminated the contracts of five vested veterans: tackles Korey Cunningham and Julien Davenport, wide receiver Jaydon Mickens, defensive end Tashawn Bower and defensive tackle Brandin Bryant.
The moves leave the Giants with 79 players. They have until 4 p.m. EDT on Tuesday to get to 53.
"I'd say really with everybody that we've kind of moved on from and that we will move on from, it's long discussions, they're hard discussions," coach Brian Daboll said when asked about Johnson. "We have a (wide receivers) room that we felt comfortable with."
Daboll said his message to the departing players is often to remain prepared, because the opportunity to return might arise soon.
"Had some (discussions) this morning and that was really the message is everybody has to stay ready," Daboll said. "I appreciate all their effort, their hard work that they have put into things. Unfortunately, it's not going to work out being on the active roster but stay ready and I just appreciate everything that they've contributed up to this point, but tough days."
Johnson and Cunningham were the only two players released today who had played in regular-season games for the Giants. Cunningham played in 13 games in two seasons with the team, including 12 in 2021. He started at right tackle and played every offensive snap in the first and third preseason games.
Two years ago, the Giants were awarded Johnson off waivers just prior to the start of the season and he caught 11 passes for 105 yards while playing in 12 games with one start. He was playing impressively in camp last year before a torn Achilles tendon suffered in practice ended his season.
This year, the competition at wide receiver increased in terms of both talent and depth. Johnson did not catch a pass in the Giants' three-game preseason.
"I figured it (releasing Johnson) would be a good opportunity for him to get a jumpstart on potentially the next team, doing him the right way," Daboll said. "A guy that's a hard worker, just we had some other guys that we're going to keep."
Mickens joined the Giants' practice squad last Dec. 14 and the roster on Jan. 23, making him the player who had been with the Giants for the longest time among the other eight who were cut. Evans joined the Giants on July 19, Robinson on July 21, Bryant on July 24, Bower on July 25, Atkins on July 27, Jeter on Aug. 4, and Davenport on Aug. 16.
Davenport, Bower, Bryant, Robinson and Jeter (one game) all have prior NFL experience.
View photos of every move made by the Giants during the 2023 cycle.
OLB Oshane Ximines - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)
OL Jaylon Thomas - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)
RB Taiwan Jones - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 16)
OLB Oshane Ximines - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 16)
RB Taiwan Jones - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 9)
K Graham Gano - Signed 3-year contract extension (September 8)
WR Cam Sims - Practice Squad Veteran Signing (September 4)
WR Cole Beasley - Practice Squad; Injured (September 4)
G Jack Anderson - Waived, Injury Settlement
DB Kaleb Hayes, WR Dennis Houston, T Jaylon Thomas - Practice Squad Signing (August 31)
RB Taiwan Jones - Practice Squad Veteran Signing (August 31)
TE Tyree Jackson, G Jalen Mayfield - Practice Squad Exception Signing (August 31)
DB Gemon Green, T Tyre Phillips - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (August 31)
CB Zyon Gilbert - Waived, Injury Settlement
DT Ryder Anderson, ILB Darrian Beavers, DB Alex Cook, QB Tommy DeVito, CB Gemon Green, ILB Dyontae Johnson, TE Ryan Jones - Practice Squad (August 30)
WR Cole Beasley, CB Amani Oruwariye, T Tyre Phillips, OLB Oshane Ximines - Practice Squad Veteran (August 30)
OLB Tomon Fox - Practice Squad Exception (August 30)
DE Boogie Basham - Acquired via Trade (via BUF) with 2025 7th Round Pick for 2025 6th Round Pick (August 30)
DT Ryder Anderson - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
DE Habakkuk Baldonado - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
LB Darrian Beavers - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
DB Alex Cook - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
RB Jashaun Corbin - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
QB Tommy DeVito - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
LB Tomon Fox - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
DB Gemon Green - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
LB Dyontae Johnson - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
TE Ryan Jones - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
LS Cameron Lyons - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
T Tyre Phillips - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
WR Kalil Pimpleton - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
DT Kobe Smith - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
LB Ray Wilborn - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
WR Cole Beasley - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
WR Jamison Crowder - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
C Sean Harlow - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
DB Amani Oruwariye - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
WR David Sills V - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
LB Oshane Ximines - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
TE Tommy Sweeney - Reserve/Non-Football Illness (August 29)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson - Passed Physical (August 29)
CB Aaron Robinson - Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (August 29)
TE Chris Myarick - Reserve/Injured (August 28)
DB Zyon Gilbert - Waived, Injured (August 28)
G Jack Anderson - Waived, Injured (August 28)
G Wyatt Davis - Waived, Injured (August 28)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton - Reserve/Injured (August 27)
WR Jaydon Mickens - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 27)
OT Korey Cunningham - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 27)
OT Julién Davenport - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 27)
DT Brandin Bryant - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 27)
DE Tashawn Bower - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 27)
DT Kevin Atkins - Waived, No Recall (August 27)
WR Collin Johnson - Waived, No Recall (August 27)
DB Darren Evans - Waived, No Recall (August 27)
NT Donovan Jeter - Waived, No Recall (August 27)
RB James Robinson - Waived, No Recall (August 27)
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons - Acquired via Trade (via ARZ) for 2024 7th Round Pick (August 25)
OT Devery Hamilton - Waived, Injury Settlement (August 24)
LB Troy Brown - Waived, Injury Settlement
CB Rodarius Williams - Waived, No Recall (August 19)
OT Julién Davenport - Free Agent Signing (August 16)
LB Troy Brown - Waived, Injured (August 16)
LB Ray Wilborn - Claimed off Waivers from DEN (August 15)
OT Devery Hamilton - Waived/Injured (August 15)
DL D.J. Davidson - Passed Physical (August 14)
WR Jeff Smith - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Injury Settlement (August 11)
DT A'Shawn Robinson - Passed Physical (August 7)
OL Marcus McKethan - Passed Physical (August 7)
NT Donovan Jeter - Free Agent Signing (August 4)
WR Jeff Smith - Waived/Injured (August 4)
C Sean Harlow - Free Agent Signing (August 1)
OL J.C. Hassenauer - Reserve/Injured (August 1)
WR Sterling Shepard - Passed Physical (July 30)
WR Jamison Crowder - Passed Physical (July 30)
DT Vernon Butler - Reserve/Injured (July 29)
LB Elerson Smith - Waived, Injury Settlement (July 29)
DT Kevin Atkins - Free Agent Signing (July 27)
T Andrew Thomas - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (July 26)
DT D.J. Davidson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 25)
G Marcus McKethan - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 25)
CB Aaron Robinson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 25)
DT A'Shawn Robinson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 25)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 25)
WR Sterling Shepard - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 25)
WR Jamison Crowder - Declared Non-Football Injury (July 25)
DT Vernon Butler - Reserve/Did Not Report (July 25)
RB Saquon Barkley - Franchise Player Signing (July 25)
OLB Tashawn Bower - Free Agent Signing (July 25)
OLB Elerson Smith - Waived, Injured (July 25)
DB Trenton Thompson - Waived, No Recall (July 25)
DT Brandin Bryant - Free Agent Signing (July 24)
WR Makai Polk - Waived, No Recall (July 24)
WR Dre Miller - Waived, No Recall (July 24)
RB James Robinson - Free Agent Signing (July 21)
WR Cole Beasley - Free Agent Signing (July 21)
DB Darren Evans - Free Agent Signing (July 18)
LB Jarrad Davis - Reserve/Injured (July 18)
DB Leonard Johnson - Waived/Injured (July 18)
DL Kobe Smith - Free Agent Signing (June 15)
DL Dexter Lawrence - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (May 5)
OLB Oshane Ximines - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
OLB Habakkuk Baldonado - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
LB Troy Brown - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
DB Alex Cook - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
QB Tommy DeVito - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
DB Gemon Green - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
LB Dyontae Johnson - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
TE Ryan Jones - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
LS Cameron Lyons - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
CB Deonte Banks - Selected in Round 1 (Pick No. 24) of 2023 NFL Draft
CB Deonte Banks - Selection List Signing (May 18)
OL John Michael Schmitz - Selected in Round 2 (Pick No. 57) of 2023 NFL Draft
C John Michael Schmitz - Selection List Signing (May 23)
WR Jalin Hyatt - Selected in Round 3 (Pick No. 73) of 2023 NFL Draft
WR Jalin Hyatt - Selection List Signing (May 15)
RB Eric Gray - Selection List Signing (May 5)
CB Tre Hawkins III - Selected in Round 6 (Pick No. 209) of 2023 NFL Draft
CB Tre Hawkins III - Selection List Signing (May 5)
DL Jordon Riley - Selected in Round 7 (Pick No. 243) of 2023 NFL Draft
RB Eric Gray - Selected in Round 5 (Pick No. 172) of 2023 NFL Draft
DL Jordan Riley - Selection List Signing (May 6)
DB Gervarrius Owens - Selected in Round 7 (Pick No. 254) of 2023 NFL Draft
DB Gervarrius Owens - Selection List Signing (May 5)
DT A'Shawn Robinson - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 24)
C J.C. Hassenauer - Free Agent Signing (April 7)
OLB Jihad Ward - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 29)
TE Tommy Sweeney - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 23)
CB Amani Oruwariye - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 23)
WR Jamison Crowder - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 23)
S Bobby McCain - Free Agent Signing (March 23)
WR Darius Slayton - Free Agent Signing (March 20)
DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
WR Parris Campbell - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
WR Jeff Smith - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
LB Bobby Okereke - Free Agent Signing (March 16)
WR Sterling Shepard - Free Agent Signing (March 15)
TE Darren Waller - Acquired via trade with Las Vegas Raiders (March 15)
RB Matt Breida - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 14)
P Jamie Gillan - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 13)
LS Casey Kreiter - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 13)
G Wyatt Davis - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 13)
QB Daniel Jones - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 7)
RB Saquon Barkley - Designated Franchise Player (March 7)
LB Jarrad Davis - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 7)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Signed, Exclusive Rights (February 16)
G Jack Anderson - Signed, Exclusive Rights (February 14)
TE Lawrence Cager - Signed, Exclusive Rights (February 13)
WR David Sills V - Reserve/Future Signing (January 26)
DB Terrell Burgess - Reserve/Future Signing (January 26)
TE Chris Myarick - Reserve/Future Signing (January 23)
T Devery Hamilton - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
WR Dre Miller - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
DB Zyon Gilbert - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
DT Vernon Butler - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
WR Makai Polk - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
T Korey Cunningham - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
WR Jaydon Mickens - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
WR Kalil Pimpleton - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
RB Jashaun Corbin - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
DB Trenton Thompson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
DB Terrell Burgess - Waived/Injured (May 5)
G Solomon Kindley - Waived
WR Kenny Golladay - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 15)
*Daboll was asked if wide receiver Sterling Shepard, an eight-year veteran who is the Giants' longest tenured player, has "shown you enough to prove to you that he could help this team this year." Shepard missed the last 14 games of the 2022 season with a torn ACL.
"Yeah, everything that we've asked him to do, and we've had a rehab plan I know that I've talked about for him," Daboll said. "He's done a nice job of kind of hitting each marker that we've set for him up to this point. Pleased with where he's at, trainers have done a really good job with him and he's done a good job himself, as a player, of being ready to go and I'd say performing well each time he's had an opportunity to go out there on the practice field or in the game of being conscientious and knowing what to do. He's looked pretty good in terms of his quickness and his explosion coming back after a couple years of injuries, so I'm pleased with where he's at."
Shepard didn't catch a pass last night but did field one punt.
"That was the next step of his rehab," Daboll said. "To get him out there and play a few more reps in live competition and again, I told you guys last night, he can catch punts and it'd be good for him to get out there in live action and catch a punt. Where he's at and what we've asked him to do, I'm happy with the progress that he's made."
*Perhaps no Giants player had a more impressive preseason than Graham Gano. The veteran kicker made all five of his extra point tries and all six field goal attempts, the shortest from 40 yards. He also hit from 42, 47, 48 and – last night – from 56 and 57 yards.
"I feel confident," Gano said. "I feel like we've done a good job as a unit moving week by week. There's always ways to improve. So, I'm always looking for that. But, yeah, I feel good with the guys I'm working with."
In 2022, Gano set a Giants single season record with eight field goals of 50+ yards, one more than he had in 2021. He also holds the franchise career record with 20 field goals of at least 50 yards.
Gano is quick to credit long snapper Casey Kreiter and holder Jamie Gillan.
"I think on those long ones, everything's got to go right," Gano said. "I feel like a lot of it oftentimes gets overlooked at how well these guys do. Casey and Jamie and the line blocking, everything's got to go well on those, and they made me feel really comfortable back there. When coach has the confidence to send me out for those, I need to make them. It's good going into the regular season and having a few long ones. It was a good operation for everyone."
*Markus McKethan played 20 snaps as a substitute right guard. It was his first game action since Dec. 30, 2021, when he played for North Carolina against South Carolina in the Bank of America Bowl. The Giants' fifth-round draft choice in 2022, McKethan tore his ACL in a training camp practice and missed his entire rookie season.
"It was pretty fun, man," McKethan said of his long-awaited opportunity. "I enjoyed it. I had a little pregame jitters, but other than that, it was just football. It's been a long year, but I'm finally here, so I was just enjoying it, soaking it all in."
*Daboll said tackle Tyre Phillips and defensive linemen A'Shawn Robinson and D.J. Davidson did not play last night because they are still on a "rehab plan."
View photos of the New York Giants' 2023 roster as it currently stands.
CB Deonte Banks
RB Saquon Barkley
OLB Boogie Basham
TE Daniel Bellinger
S Dane Belton
G Ben Bredeson
RB Matt Breida
RB Gary Brightwell
ILB Cam Brown
TE Lawrence Cager
WR Parris Campbell
ILB Carter Coughlin
DL D.J. Davidson
OL Joshua Ezeudu
CB Cor'Dale Flott
K Graham Gano
P Jamie Gillan
G Mark Glowinski
RB Eric Gray
CB Tre Hawkins III
WR Isaiah Hodgins
CB Darnay Holmes
WR Jalin Hyatt
CB Adoree' Jackson
QB Daniel Jones
LS Casey Kreiter
DL Dexter Lawrence
G Shane Lemieux
S Bobby McCain
CB Nick McCloud
ILB Micah McFadden
OL Marcus McKethan
S Xavier McKinney
OT Evan Neal
DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches
OLB Azeez Ojulari
LB Bobby Okereke
S Gervarrius Owens
OT Matt Peart
S Jason Pinnock
DL Jordon Riley
DT A'Shawn Robinson
WR Wan'Dale Robinson
C John Michael Schmitz Jr.
WR Sterling Shepard
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons
WR Darius Slayton
QB Tyrod Taylor
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux
OT Andrew Thomas
TE Darren Waller
OLB Jihad Ward
DL Leonard Williams
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